Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Carrot and Daikon Salad
Description:
Daikon (大根), literally "large root"), is also called Oriental radish, Chinese radish and Mooli (from Hindi Muulii). It is a mild-flavored, very large, white East Asian radish. It is common in Japanese cuisine.
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups water
1 tablespoon salt
1 small carrot, peeled, cut into matchstick pieces
1 1/2 cups daikon, peeled, cut into matchstick pieces
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon mirin
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Directions:
1. Place 1 1/2 cups of the water and the salt in a medium bowl. Place both carrot and daikon in this salted water for half and hour, then drain and set aside.
2. Combine the vinegar, remaining water, soy sauce and mirin in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the carrots and daikon and simmer for 2 minutes until tender. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
3. Place the daikon and carrot between paper towels and squeeze gently to remove the excess vinegar. Place in small bowls, sprinkle the sesame seeds over it and serve.
Daikon (大根), literally "large root"), is also called Oriental radish, Chinese radish and Mooli (from Hindi Muulii). It is a mild-flavored, very large, white East Asian radish. It is common in Japanese cuisine.
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups water
1 tablespoon salt
1 small carrot, peeled, cut into matchstick pieces
1 1/2 cups daikon, peeled, cut into matchstick pieces
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon mirin
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Directions:
1. Place 1 1/2 cups of the water and the salt in a medium bowl. Place both carrot and daikon in this salted water for half and hour, then drain and set aside.
2. Combine the vinegar, remaining water, soy sauce and mirin in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the carrots and daikon and simmer for 2 minutes until tender. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
3. Place the daikon and carrot between paper towels and squeeze gently to remove the excess vinegar. Place in small bowls, sprinkle the sesame seeds over it and serve.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Krizzie, a good friend has asked for some help. I am passing the message on, she said in her message to me = ate cat!! I need some help.. I joined the Korean Tourism contest and I need ... your help to vote for my itinerary. If I get the highest vote, I get to win a trip to Korea of 3 days 2 nights. Please be login on your FB account and then go to this website http://koreabeinspired.com/itinerary/1413 and click on 'Like' at the right hand corner of the page that says, Step 1: Vote for me. Your vote mean a lot to me. If you have twitter, please tweet the link http://koreabeinspired.com/itinerary/1413 for me too.. If you could pass the msg and ask your friends to vote for me too, it would be great. If not, your vote is enough.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Yukata kimono Market sakura
http://www.kimono-yukata-market.com/
for those who may be interested in getting one or giving one for Christmas :-)
for those who may be interested in getting one or giving one for Christmas :-)
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
What I miss most in Japan? - the vendo machines and convenience stores! Ironic finish upon arrival: since it was late, the first thing I did was go to a mini-stop and look for food coz sarado na pala (holiday pala sa Philippines on Nov 16?) - I stopped and compared our convenience stores to theirs *sigh*
Last day in Osaka, I was going to visit Kyoto again in the morning but decided to be adventurous and try Tennoji, a part of Osaka I had not seen before. Aaah..a good end to my last day in Japan - oldest established temple and I capped it off by eating in a soba-udon shop where men in business suits stood while eating...
Wow, Kobe was a surprise! A spur of the moment decision had me visiting Kobe for 1.5 hours early evening - although I missed their Kobe beef, I did manage to get a night view of the town as well as hit their Nankin-machi where as usual, Chinese food was easy on the pocket, but prepared the Jap way, was also different.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Flexibility into plans - since I had an hour to kill in Okayama on the way back to Osaka, why not change the train sked and explore it a bit? Huffed and puffed to leave luggage, then huffed and puffed to see their famous garden - different from usual garden, but I did not go inside anymore their black crow castle.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Arrived in Okayama, Japan but ran off to Kurashiki after dumping my things at the ryokan - thanks to the local train which has frequent runs. Kurashiki is a very pretty "market town" with lots of shops congregating around the "canal". Lots of museums and artists dotting around the center - drawing or doing something "art-like". A sight and site for camera buffs :-)
Tips for Traveling Light for the Backpacker w/ Fashionista tendencies
Note -
The following clothing tips are targeted for those traveling to countries in autumn or winter weather.
- if you go to a country where its cold weather when you are a-visiting, bring clothes and underwear that can easily be washed and dried quickly...you can use the hotel's dryer (hair) or heater to help quickly dry them especially if you bring the thin ones. Nylons may be thin but dry very quickly. Worst case, use the coin laundry.
- don't worry about not bringing many clothes, you do not have to bring one shirt or blouse for each day of your trip - you will wear your outer coat most of the time if you are going out and gallivanting about, so nobody need know you are wearing the same clothes every other 3 days or so :-)...of course if you do spend most of your time indoors and with your coat off..the trick is to mix and match and accessorize...
- bring scarves to accessorize or help keep you warm..a not so big shawl will also help if you want a change of wardrobe, I like those w/c are reversible in their color and patterns (obviously this tip is for women unless men like shawls in pretty patterns..hehehe)
- bring clothes than can easily mix and match in color and style - I try to bring thin long-sleeved shirts which can be mixed and paired with two sleeveless pullovers or blouses so you can have that layered look
- try to bring clothes whose colors does not clash when you mix 'em up
- bring a "malong" or "sarong" - good for being an extra blanket, a cloth to wrap around you when you are going out and lounging (not walking outside), or you can even hide inside it when changing clothes in a room with other people (such as a dorm where privacy is not always there) and it can even function as a sort of towel to help you dry off if all else fails!
- in partnership w/ the previous entry - bring a small, very easily dried travel towel - you can pair this with your malong. I have an old blue travel towel which absorbs water easily but dries very quickly..so if i use that, even if I don't have a towel to wrap around my head or body, the malong will help...and if you suddenly travel to a country in the middle of your trip and go to the beach - voila, you have a cover-up ready to use!
- if you will bring bracelets and other "butingtings" try to get one with a classic design or one w/ varied colors w/c can match your choices of clothes...that way you don't have to bring a lot of accesories to match your outfit
- bring a furoshiki (Japanese hanky/cloth) - it can double (or triple?) as a bag, a hankerchief, neckerchief, a towel, a head cover etc.
- a good pair of hiking shoes is a must if you are planning to be walking around a lot...boots look nice, but in the end, think of the comfort of your feet
- try to bring functional sleepwear that can actually be worn also as part of your everyday outfit - for example I have tank tops with built in support that can be used for sleep but can function as inner blouses for dress shirts or for that extra layer of warmth
- invest in a good coat which is flexible - the inner layer can be zippered out if you need less bulk and warmth...the inner layer can actually double as padding for delicate items you need to protect in your luggage (I used mine to wrap my laptop), and you can adjust the coat's functions to what is needed...
- if you have a little extra room, bring leggings which can be paired with shorts - you can use them both as sleepwear, loungewear, beachwear, exercisewear and also pair them up together
- your scarves can double as your belts...
- try to wear similar-colored clothes in a row - this will help you group your laundry if you do use the coin laundry machines - e.g. if you wear the brown colored ones for the first 3 days, when you launder them you don't need to worry about mixing them up w/ other clothes or colors w/c may bleed and ruin your batch of first laundry in the washing machine..
- freezer bags can be used in lieu of buying a travel zipper bag..you can compartmentalize your clothes if you want, and separate your dirty laundry quickly as the see-through plastic helps organize your clothes
- bring a bag which can be a backpack and at the same time a trolley to be wheeled around.
I personally like the polycarbonate ones but unfortunately they have not designed the yet to be used for convertible bags but only for trolleys.
Specific for Japan travelers:
- if you stay in a ryokan - no worries about lounge wear or sleeping wear - you will be provided a yukata and sometimes a haori, there will also be usually a toothbrush and toothpaste, comb and the shampoo/body soap/conditioner are also usually provided either in your room or in the public bath
- get shoes which can easily be taken off and put back on since some temples and establishments require you to take your shoes off (and show your nice shocks off *grin*)
- since you will most probably be taking off your shoes most of the time when you visit some temples, eating places etc., be sure to pack very presentable looking socks
tbc..
if something occurs to me when I wake up from my needed sleep..
The following clothing tips are targeted for those traveling to countries in autumn or winter weather.
- if you go to a country where its cold weather when you are a-visiting, bring clothes and underwear that can easily be washed and dried quickly...you can use the hotel's dryer (hair) or heater to help quickly dry them especially if you bring the thin ones. Nylons may be thin but dry very quickly. Worst case, use the coin laundry.
- don't worry about not bringing many clothes, you do not have to bring one shirt or blouse for each day of your trip - you will wear your outer coat most of the time if you are going out and gallivanting about, so nobody need know you are wearing the same clothes every other 3 days or so :-)...of course if you do spend most of your time indoors and with your coat off..the trick is to mix and match and accessorize...
- bring scarves to accessorize or help keep you warm..a not so big shawl will also help if you want a change of wardrobe, I like those w/c are reversible in their color and patterns (obviously this tip is for women unless men like shawls in pretty patterns..hehehe)
- bring clothes than can easily mix and match in color and style - I try to bring thin long-sleeved shirts which can be mixed and paired with two sleeveless pullovers or blouses so you can have that layered look
- try to bring clothes whose colors does not clash when you mix 'em up
- bring a "malong" or "sarong" - good for being an extra blanket, a cloth to wrap around you when you are going out and lounging (not walking outside), or you can even hide inside it when changing clothes in a room with other people (such as a dorm where privacy is not always there) and it can even function as a sort of towel to help you dry off if all else fails!
- in partnership w/ the previous entry - bring a small, very easily dried travel towel - you can pair this with your malong. I have an old blue travel towel which absorbs water easily but dries very quickly..so if i use that, even if I don't have a towel to wrap around my head or body, the malong will help...and if you suddenly travel to a country in the middle of your trip and go to the beach - voila, you have a cover-up ready to use!
- if you will bring bracelets and other "butingtings" try to get one with a classic design or one w/ varied colors w/c can match your choices of clothes...that way you don't have to bring a lot of accesories to match your outfit
- bring a furoshiki (Japanese hanky/cloth) - it can double (or triple?) as a bag, a hankerchief, neckerchief, a towel, a head cover etc.
- a good pair of hiking shoes is a must if you are planning to be walking around a lot...boots look nice, but in the end, think of the comfort of your feet
- try to bring functional sleepwear that can actually be worn also as part of your everyday outfit - for example I have tank tops with built in support that can be used for sleep but can function as inner blouses for dress shirts or for that extra layer of warmth
- invest in a good coat which is flexible - the inner layer can be zippered out if you need less bulk and warmth...the inner layer can actually double as padding for delicate items you need to protect in your luggage (I used mine to wrap my laptop), and you can adjust the coat's functions to what is needed...
- if you have a little extra room, bring leggings which can be paired with shorts - you can use them both as sleepwear, loungewear, beachwear, exercisewear and also pair them up together
- your scarves can double as your belts...
- try to wear similar-colored clothes in a row - this will help you group your laundry if you do use the coin laundry machines - e.g. if you wear the brown colored ones for the first 3 days, when you launder them you don't need to worry about mixing them up w/ other clothes or colors w/c may bleed and ruin your batch of first laundry in the washing machine..
- freezer bags can be used in lieu of buying a travel zipper bag..you can compartmentalize your clothes if you want, and separate your dirty laundry quickly as the see-through plastic helps organize your clothes
- bring a bag which can be a backpack and at the same time a trolley to be wheeled around.
I personally like the polycarbonate ones but unfortunately they have not designed the yet to be used for convertible bags but only for trolleys.
Specific for Japan travelers:
- if you stay in a ryokan - no worries about lounge wear or sleeping wear - you will be provided a yukata and sometimes a haori, there will also be usually a toothbrush and toothpaste, comb and the shampoo/body soap/conditioner are also usually provided either in your room or in the public bath
- get shoes which can easily be taken off and put back on since some temples and establishments require you to take your shoes off (and show your nice shocks off *grin*)
- since you will most probably be taking off your shoes most of the time when you visit some temples, eating places etc., be sure to pack very presentable looking socks
tbc..
if something occurs to me when I wake up from my needed sleep..
Kanazawa's "Nakayasu Ryokan" was a very cosy home away from home when I visited this particular town. Very good location indeed (and I congratulate myself on my choice)...and surprise, surprise! - when I gave them a token of appreciation from the Philippines, I unexpectedly received a beautifully wrapped package - I was handed a wrapped set of a pair of red and black lacquered chopsticks which is part of Kanazawa's products. So even if I missed the museum of Kanazawa products I wanted to check out, I got something as a souvenir *happy cat*
Nagoya Castle is historically the castle built by the first Tokugawa shogun. Its a treat to see it..though its not too big. It also looks very pretty at night in pictures (I saw it in the afternoon though). Another plus in visiting Nagoya on the way to Okayama is that I met up with Che's friend who was super-considerate to bring me around to tourist attractions in the little time I had, treated me to the biggest bowl of shomen I've ever seen... then we had an impromptu "lost" time looking for the ryokan I was to say *grin*
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Recommended: "Rickshaw Inn" in Takayama, Japan. Cute small tatami room, but very homey atmosphere, and best of all there is free wi-fi in the rooms (the laptop cable in the room doesn't work but I can live w/ that). This is the only one so far I've stayed in that has its own toilet in the room for the price I've paid..but that is one step up from shared toilets. As usual, all ryokans I've stayed in are spotlessly clean.
"Ichinoyu Honkan" in Hakone, Japan is one I highly recommend that Hakone and onsen adventure...and its beside the river so you are close to nature..Tonosawa area is known for its onsens in this area...con: cold water from room washbasins...they haven't really modernized fully...oh well, I will submerge myself in their hot baths to compensate..
Monday, November 8, 2010
A meow! from Kanazawa (Japan)
| Cat's Postcard from Kanazawa, Japan |
Photograph above from internet (during springtime).
Photograph above from this trip (taken during autumn).
KANAZAWA, JAPAN, 8th November 2010 - Hiking the way up to Kenrokuen Garden, I stopped briefly at this street.
I remember this place because I saw a photograph somewhere of this stretch of shops and street during spring (first photograph above).
It's a thrill to recognize the place and see the trees - even if they are shorn of their spring glory.
Wind was bracing, light was fading even if it was mid-afternoon...few people about.
*rubs hands*
Mood: anticipation (in seeing one of the top three most beautiful gardens in Japan)
Cat's Postcard from Kanazawa, Japan
Photograph above from internet (during springtime).
Photograph above from this trip (taken during autumn).
KANAZAWA, JAPAN, 8th November 2010 - Hiking the way up to Kenrokuen Garden, I stopped briefly at this street.
I remember this place because I saw a photograph somewhere of this stretch of shops and street during spring (first photograph above).
It's a thrill to recognize the place and see the trees - even if they are shorn of their spring glory.
Wind was bracing, light was fading even if it was mid-afternoon...few people about.
*rubs hands*
Mood: anticipation
(in seeing one of the top three most beautiful gardens in Japan)
Kanazawa, Japan is definitely worth a second visit in the future. Sure I`ve been to Kyoto, which is one of the best places to experience the "old Japan"...but Kanazawa is also reputed to have the most beautiful garden in Japan. I'm just sad I have to miss Kaga Ryori and dine on nikuman (aka siopao to us) instead hehehe...
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
A Side of Sensō-ji
ASAKUSA Taitō, Japan, 5th November 2010 - I took very few panoramic pictures in this trip. Mostly because there were just too many people milling about.
These two pictures I've posted below are 2/3 of what I took of Sensoji - on one side of it in daytime, and one of its gate at night, when thankfully very few people were left.
This is Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in the 7th century.
Dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, this is also popularly called Asakusa Kannon Temple.
* Camera used: GE G3WP (waterproof)
* Unedited, no tripod, but I hope you can see a side of Sensoji not usually seen during the heavy tourist season.
These two pictures I've posted below are 2/3 of what I took of Sensoji - on one side of it in daytime, and one of its gate at night, when thankfully very few people were left.
This is Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in the 7th century.
Dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, this is also popularly called Asakusa Kannon Temple.
* Camera used: GE G3WP (waterproof)
* Unedited, no tripod, but I hope you can see a side of Sensoji not usually seen during the heavy tourist season.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Cat's Postcard from Picasso Pavilion
HAKONE, JAPAN, 4th November 2010 - In Hakone's Open Air Museum, more than 300 works by Picasso are gathered.Here I am outside said building housing not only Pablo Picasso's works but also those of his daughter Maya.
Aside from that come-on, there are also portraits of Picasso taken by David Douglas Duncan for the last decade or so of Picasso's life.
First day on my trip to Osaka, I had to leave my souvenir umbrella (from my trip to NY) at the airport's bin because I didn't know it was supposed to be checked-in *huhuhuhu*. I mean, its always been in my handcarried bag in my other trips. Then my monk bag handle got lost somewhere between when I was in plane and then walked to immigration. Second day, I left my 1/4 full green tea bottle, and then almost left my key in the basket in the public bath. Third day I left my door unlocked for 30 minutes. Lucky its Japan :-). But a small price to pay since the trip has gone according to schedule so far...
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Black or White, its an egg!
OWAKUDANI, HAKONE, JAPAN, 3rd November 2010 - Somewhere on this post is a picture or two of the kind of egg I almost bought.
A cold wind blew around me and probably slapped some logic into my head.
I came back to my senses and thought of keeping my yen - after all, whether its black or white shells, its still that - an egg!
I skipped buying black eggs... going a very different way from what almost all the other people around me were doing.
Ha!... who needs 7 extra years of longevity?
Hmm...and that is on a per egg basis too....
Owakudani Nature Trail is the found in the first stop of the ropeway during its trip to Togendai in Hakone, Japan. Its the ropeway's highest point and means "Great Boiling Valley"...later pics will show proof why its called that (either that or the smell will clue you in).
[picture of the eggs being hoisted to//fro boiling area and selling area]
Sulphurically-fragrant postcard from Owakudani!
HAKONE, KANAGAWA PREF., JAPAN, 3rd November 2010 - Although a bit far away from Osaka and more accessible from Tokyo, my goal was really to reach Hakone - if only to try and see some of the stations which were said to have spectacular views.
Truly, Hakone has much to offer the visitor who has the Hakone Free Pass! (though why its called free when I paid for it, is beyond my ken at the moment).
Owakudani is a station along the Hakone Ropeway between Sounzan and Togendai. It is a popular tourist site for its scenic views, volcanic activity, and especially, Kuro-tamago (黒玉子) — a local specialty of eggs hard-boiled in the hot springs.
Monday, November 1, 2010
A basic bug in Cebu Pacific website. I just tried using their web check in facility now. I see this nice exclamation point: "Passenger must select a seat." So obligingly (though I don't want to pay extra for any seat), I go and click on the link..only to be greeted with - "Sorry, you cannot choose seats for this flight online. Seats will be assigned when you check in for your flight at the airport."
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